The Biotech Industry has jumped last year as growth seen in the number of new drug approvals has increased investor confidence within the industry. The iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology Index Fund (IBB) and the SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI) have both rallied more than 35 percent in the past year.

In other news, Ernst & Young’s Firepower Index showed that between 2006 and 2012 the financial capacity of big biotech has advanced by 61% while specialty pharma’s firepower increased 20%.

Coming to top performers this year, Galena Biopharma Inc (NASDAQ:GALE) is one of the top gainers with a year-to-date performance of 16.99%. The stock, as of last close, traded 316.28% up from its 52 week low and was 49.44% behind its 52 week high. Its latest closing price was 5.30% above the SMA200 while the distance from SMA 50 and SMA 20 was -2.72% and +2.11% respectively.

Another sharp gainer Dendreon Corporation (NASDAQ:DNDN) has YTD performance up at 13.61%. Its price, as of the latest close, was up 62.87% compared with the 52 week low and was 64.73% below the 52 week high.The stock’s latest closing price was down -5.61% from the average-price of 200 days while it kept its distance from the SMA 50 at +30.92% and +16.11% compared with the SMA 20.

Sequenom, Inc.(NASDAQ:SQNM) has shown an uptrend of 11.04% this year with a monthly performance of 5.44% and 3-month performance up 50.72%. Its latest closing price was +30.55% up from an average-price of 200 days while it maintained a distance from the SMA 50 at +25.35% and +10.43% compared with the SMA 20. The stock was up 97.36% from the 52 week low and was 10.29% below the 52 week high.

The year-to-date performance of Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(NASDAQ:IDIX) stands at 10.52% with an advance of +22.37% in the last three months and -27.07% in the previous twelve months. Its price, as of the latest close, was 60.00% up from the 52 week low and was 64.85% below the 52 week high. Its latest closing price was -25.28% down from an average-price of 200 days while it kept its distance from the SMA 50 at +16.03% and +7.16% compared with the SMA 20.

Sarepta Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:SRPT) so far this year has moved up 12.40% and its monthly performance stands at -0.58%. The stock was 778.79% up compared with the 52 week low and was 35.56% below the 52 week high. Its latest closing price was 114.20% up from an average-price of 200 days while it kept its distance from the SMA 50 at +12.71% and +13.19% compared with the SMA 20.

On the flip side, NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(NASDAQ:NPSP) has been one of the worst performers in 2013 with a year-to-date performance of -2.86%. The stock, as of last close, traded 43.74% up from its 52 week low and was 21.21% behind its 52 week high. Its latest closing price was 7.24% up from the SMA200 while the distance from SMA 50 and SMA 20 was -6.39% and -5.67% respectively.

Another biggest loser Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(NASDAQ:QCOR) has a performance down -2.28%. Its price, as of the latest close, was up 53.60% compared with the 52 week low and was 55.01% below the 52 week high.The stock’s latest closing price was -27.94% down from an average-price of 200 days while it kept its distance from the SMA 50 at -1.36% and -6.25% compared with the SMA 20.

Celsion Corporation(NASDAQ:CLSN) so far this year has moved down -1.95% and its monthly performance stands at +2.95%. The stock was 392.64% up compared with the 52 week low and was 9.37% below the 52 week high. Its latest closing price was 98.35% up from an average-price of 200 days while it kept its distance from the SMA 50 at +23.30% and +0.84% compared with the SMA 20.

Illumina, Inc.(NASDAQ:ILMN) has shown a downtrend of -1.49% this year with a monthly performance of +5.80% and 3-month performance up +7.37%. Its latest closing price was +18.47% up from an average-price of 200 days while it maintained a distance from the SMA 50 at +7.30% and +1.94% compared with the SMA 20. The stock was up 90.67% compared with the 52 week low and was 3.93% below the 52 week high.

Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(NASDAQ:ARNA) so far in 2013 declined -0.22% and its monthly performance stands at +4.41%. The share price was 496.03% up compared with the 52 week low and was 33.33% below the 52 week high. Its most recent closing price was 20.47% up from an average-price of 200 days while it kept its distance from the SMA 50 at +3.38% and +0.76% compared with the SMA 20.

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